Pressurized dispensing containers



March 14, 1967 P MoGH|E PRESSURIZED DISPENSING. CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1964 INVENTOR Russell Pork McGhie ATTORNEY March 14, 1967 Filed June 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N :4 r I 11TH INVENTOR v Russell Park McGhie \42/ BYW, M a M ATTORNEYS United States PatentC) 3,308,857 PRES$URIZED DISPENSING CONTAINERS Russell Park McGhie, New York, N.Y., assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 2, 1964, Ser. No. 372,029 11 Claims. (Cl. 141-2il) This invention relates to pressurized dispensing containers, such as the usual aerosol type, and is particularly concerned with special filling and refilling arrangements and structures.

The usual aerosol container is thrown away when the internal gas pressure reduced to atmospheric, with attendant waste of the remaining product. It has been proposed'to refill some of these containers, but so far only relatively complex and bulky arrangements which usually necessitate removal of the spray control button from the valve stem and otherwise risk accidental discharge of the contents have been suggested.

The present invention eliminates the foregoing objections by providing an entirely novel container structure which enables it to be refilled after merely removing a bottom closure member. The invention also includes novel cap structure for the supply container adapting it for connection to the container to be refilled and for independent dispensing operation.

It is, therefore, the major object of this invention to provide a novel waste-proof arrangement for filling and refilling pressurized dispensing containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container having a novel bottom structure for speedy safe refilling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel supply container cover structure for optional coupling to a container to be refilled, or for independent direct dispensing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel cover structure for a pressurized supply container having a rotatable control button movable between a direct dispensing position and a position for refilling another container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pressurized container having similar normally closed valve assemblies at opposite ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel pressurized container assembly having a slidable rotatable dispensing control button formed with longitudinal dispensing bores eccentric to its axis of rotation.

Further objects of the invention will appearas the description proceeds in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation mainly in section and partly broken away showing a refillable dispensing container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevation partially broken away and sectioned showing the larger supply container with its outlet control head in position for dispensing of the contents directly into the atmosphere;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the supply container of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a composite elevation partially broken away and partly in section showing the supply container outlet control head in position for refill coupling to the smaller dispensing container, and showing the dispensing container as connected during the filling operation;

FIGURE 5 is a section on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 showing the outlet control head structure and the coupling tube;

3,308,857 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 and FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the control head onthe supply container cap.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the dispensing container 11 comprises a tubular body 12 that has substantially identical upper and lower end structures 13 and 14 respectively.

Upper end structure comprises a sheet metal cap 15 having its external periphery formed with a head 16 clenched tightly over the upper beaded end 17 of body 12.

Cap 15 is formed with a central dome 18 wherein is clenched a discharge valve assembly 1 9 of known construction per se having a projecting hollow operating and discharge stem 21 that is axially reciprocable in the assembly, being spring biased outwardly. A spray directing button 22 is detachably secured upon stem. 21 and is formed with an internal passage communicating with the open end of stem 21 and terminating in a side outlet 23.

Valve assembly 19 may advantageously be of any suitable construction wherein a hollow stem such as that at 21 is displaced into the assembly to unseat a normally closed valve element (not shown) and allow the pressurized contents of body 12 to discharge through stem 21. Valve assembly 19 has an inlet conduit portion 24 on which is mounted a dip tube 25 having its open lower end near the bottom of the container body. The actual structure of valve assembly 19 and the associated spray directing button may be that disclosed in US. Letters Patent to Abplanalp No. 2,631,814 issued March 15, 1953 to which reference may be had for further detail.

The upper end of'the dispensing container is enclosed by a removable snap-on cover 26 the side walls of which is internally grooved at 27 to provide a friction interfit with the container body at head 16. 7

Similarly lower cap 14 is formed with a peripheral bead 28 clenched over lower body bead 29 and an outwardly extending central dome 31 wherein is secured a valve assembly 32 preferably identical with that at 19 7 spring biased reciprocable hollow operating stem 33.

' The lower end of the dispensing container is closed by a cover 34 that is preferably identical with that at 26 and is formed with a side wall head at 35 for frictional interfit with lower container bead 28.

A shortrigid length of adapter conduit 36 is formed with a counterbore 37 by which it is press fitted upon valve stem 33 so as to be mounted on that stem. At its lower end conduit 36 is formed with a counterbore 38, for a purpose to appear.

Covers 26 and 34 are preferably identical and their cylindrical side walls are of the same diameter as that of cylindrical body 12, so thatthe entire dispenser assembly comprising upper cover 26 enclosing and protecting the upper valve stem and button 22 and lower cover 34 enclosing and protecting the lower valve stem and conduit 36 appears as a substantially continuously cylindrical package.

To use the dispenser of FIGURE 1, upper cover 26 is pulled olf and button 22 is depressed. Container 11 is of the usual aerosol type, and the walls of the container body may be sheet metal or some suitable plastic, or even glass.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the supply container 41 is a cylindrical can having a suitably closed bottom 42 and a reduced upper end closed by a cap 43 having a peripheral bead 44 clenched over a body head 45. Cap 43 is domed to fixedly mount a discharge valve assembly 46 which is preferably the same as valve assemblies 19 and 32 and comprises a reciprocable hollow operating and discharge stem 47 that is normally spring biased outwardly. A dip tube 48 is connected to intake conduit 49 of the valve assembly.

Container 41 is of the usual aerosol type whereindisplacement, of stem 47 release the pressurized contents through stem 47.

In thissupply assembly, the valve stem 47 is surrounded by a snap-on plastic cap 51 having an internal groove 52, for frictional interlock, with body bead 44. Cap 51 is integrally formed with an internally projecting hollow boss 53 having a cylindrical bore 54 axially displaceably mounting a discharge control head or button 55 of'special construction. Bore 54 is eccentric with respect to the axis of valve stern 47;

At. the upper end of bore 54 is formed an integralinwarclly projecting ledge50, shown best in FIGURE 6, and formed in ledge 50 are diametrically opposite recesses 56 and 57'for,a purpose to later appear. The inner periphery 58' of ledge 50 isa cylinder interrupted by recesses 56 and 57;

Looking now at FIGURE 7 the flat transverse end wall 59 of the cap has upstandingtherefrom a short integral collar 60 that, is interrupted by diametrically opposite recesses 61 and 62 symmetrical with recesses 56 and 57 respectively. The cylindrical inner surface of collar 60 is a continuation of the cylindrical inner periphery of ledge 50.

' Control head 55 comprises a cylindrical body 63 slidably guided in cylindrical surface 58, the axis of rotation of body63 being indicated at 64. Eccentrically on opposite sides of axis 64, the head 55 is formed with a longitudinal through bore 65 and a longitudinal smaller diameter bore 66 that has its inner end open inwardly of cap 51 and, its outer end closed except for a reduced lateral discharge passage 67. The axes of bores 65 and 66 are parallel and lie on the same diameter of head 55 on opposite sides of axis 64. The inner end of bore 66 is counterb-ored at 68 to fit slidably upon the upper end of valve stem 47 when the head 55 is in the FIGURE 2 position, so that when head 55 is depressed it shifts valve stem 47 to open the valve assembly at 46 and permit discharge of the pressurized contents of the container 41 through stem 47, bore 66 and passage 67 directly into the atmosphere. Head 55, FIGURE 3, is shaped to direct discharge of container 41.

With reference to FIGURES 2, and 8 head 55 is formed with a longitudinally extending narrow integral rounded surface rib 69 that extends between the enlarged tip 71 of the head to an annular radially outwardly extending flange 72. Rib 69 is located in 180? displaced position from discharge aperture 67, and when rib 69 is disposed in recess 57 as shown in FIGURE 5 the direction ofdisttharge is automatically indicated to the operator looking down on head 55.

The lower end of. head 55 is internally recessed at 7 3, and bores 65 and 66 both terminate within this recess.

' When the parts are in FIGURE 2 position, with valve stem 47 in counterbore 68 and the head 55 urged upwardly by the spring bias (not shown) acting on stem 47 at least, sufficiently to clear, opening 67 above collar 60, direct discharge from the supply container may be obtained by manually depressing head 55 as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 2. At this time rib 69 is disposed in ledge recess56.

The dispensing container of FIGURE 1 may be refilled when empty, by the operation illustrated in FIGURE 4. First head 55 is lifted high enough to disengage stem 47 from counterbore 68, and then head 55 is turned 180 to the FIGURE 4 position wherein rib 69 is disposed in recess 57 as shown in FIGURE 5.

,Valve stem-47 is now projecting into the lower end of bore 65 which is now axially aligned therewith. Abutment of flange 72 with ledge 55 prevents head 55 from being pulled axially=outof-the -cap51. Rotation of head 55 is permitted due to the inherent resiliency of the plastic material of cap 51 which permits rib 69 to earn in and out of recesses 56 and 57. The operator can sense by touch container 11, and conduit 36 is thrust down through bore 65 of head 55 (FIGURE 4) until the counterbore 38tele= scopes over valve stem 47. Now when dispensing con tainer 11 is pushed axially toward supply container 41 both valve stems 33 and 47 are axially displaced sufiiciently to open both valves 32 and 46, so that pressurized contents of container 41 may enter the dispensing container body 12. This relationship is maintained until the internal fluid pressure in both containers 11 and 41 be cornessubstantially equal, and the dispensing container 11 is withdrawn from the supply container. Both valves 32 and 46 automatically close at this time, and the dispensing container is now refilled and ready for use as'before described. Usually, supply container 41 is charged with an inert gas that provides an internal pressure sufiiciently greater than that normally used in the usual'dispenser to refill several dispensers in this manner.

Preferably cap 51 and head 55 are integrally molded from polyethylene 'oranother solid plastic material of similar characteristics.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respect as illustrative and not restric tive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pressurized dispensing container assembly having dispensing and refill valve assemblies mounted in its upper and lower end walls respectively, each of said valve assemblies comprising an axially displaceable outwardly projecting operating and discharge stem, a dip tube attached to the dispensing valve within the container, and a removable bottom cover on said container enclosing the projecting valve stem of the refill valve assembly.

2. In the assembly defined in claim 1, a manual operating button on the upper valve stern, and a refill conduit connection on the lower valve stem, said covers enclosing .said conduit connection.

3. A pressurized dispensing container comprising an upper valve assembly having an upwardly projecting displaceable operating and discharge stern, a cover member adapted for mounting on said container, 21 head rotatably mounted on said cover member about a spaced axis parallel but eccentric with respect to the axis of said valve stem, said head having a first longitudinal through passage and a second longitudinal passage terminating in a lateral discharge outlet, the axes of said passages being equally spaced with respect to the axis of rotation of said head so that said head may be rotated between two operative positions where saidfirst and second passages respectively are aligned with said stem.

4. The pressurized container defined in claim 3, wherein means is provided for releasably holding said head in said positions.

5. In a system for filling dispensing containers from a supply container, each said dispensing container having in its lower end a one-way valve operated by an axially displaceable projecting hollow operating and discharge stem, a supply container having a head structure formed with a through passage adapted for alignment with an upwardly projecting axially displaceable discharge and operating stem of a valve in the supply container, and an adapter conduit connection on said; dispensing container stem whereby when said containers are axially'brought together with said conduit connection projecting through ano es":

said head passage to engage said supply container valve stem both of said'valves are opened to permit the pres surized contents of said supply container'to enter said dispensing container.

p 6. In the system defined in claim 5, a cap on said supply container, 'said head being rotatably and axially slidably mounted on said cap upon an axis eccentric to the axis of the supply container valve stem and having a direct discharge passage therethrough whereby said head may be rotated about its said axis to align said direct discharge passage with said supply container valve stem so that depression of said headdirectly releases the contents of said supply container to the air.

7. Cover structure for a supply container adapted for refilling dispensing containers comprising a body having a bore and a head rotatable in said bore on the axis of said bore, means in said head defining a through passage eccentric to said axis for reception of a conduit connection to a dispensing container to be refilled, and means in said head defining a direct discharge passage spaced from said axis and equally eccentric with respect thereto providing for direct discharge from said supply container.

8. Cover structure for a supply container adapted for refilling dispensing containers comprising a body portoin having a bore, a head rotatably and axially slidably mounted within said bore, means providing longitudinal fluid passages in said head that are parallel to the axis of said bore and spaced equally eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation otsaid head, cooperating means on said cover and head for limiting axial displacement of said 6 head in said bore and for preventing axial separation of said cover and head, and cooperating means on said cover and head for holding said head in either of two angularly spaced operative positions.

'9. In the cover structure defined in claim 8, said means for preventing axial separation of the head and cover comprising a radial flange on said head coacting with an internal ledge at said bore.

10. In the cover structure defined in claim 8, said means holding said head in angularly displaced positions comprising 180 apart recesses in said bore and a longitudinal rib on said head adapted to be slidably disposed in one or the other of said recesses.

11. In the cover structure defined in claim 10, said cover and head being molded polyethylene and said ribs coming in and out of said recesses as permitted by the inherent resiliency of said polyethylene.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,997,243 8/1961 Kolb 239337 3,170,603 2/1965 Kitterrnan 220- 3,181,737 5/1965 Chaucer 141-20 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,228,733 3/1960 France. 1,354,848 2/1964 France.

LAVERNE D. IGEIGER, Primary Ebxaminer.

H. S. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A PRESSURIZED DISPENSING CONTAINER COMPRISING AN UPPER VALVE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING DISPLACEABLE OPERATING AND DISCHARGE STEM, A COVER MEMBER ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON SAID CONTAINER, A HEAD ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID COVER MEMBER ABOUT A SPACED AXIS PARALLEL BUT ECCENTRIC WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAID VALVE STEM, SAID HEAD HAVING A FIRST LONGITUDINAL THROUGH PASSAGE AND A SECOND LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE TERMINATING IN A LATERAL DISCHARGE OUTLET, THE AXES OF SAID PASSAGES BEING EQUALLY SPACED WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID HEAD SO THAT SAID HEAD MAY BE ROTATED BETWEEN TWO OPERATIVE POSITIONS WHERE SAID FIRST AND SECOND PASSAGES RESPECTIVELY ARE ALIGNED WITH SAID STEM. 